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22/8/2012

Subject To Change

Kursaal Gallery Space, Southend-on-Sea

Subject to Change is a group exhibition presenting recent work by eleven UK based, Polish-born contemporary visual artists. Devised and organised by Deconstruction Project this show is part of the programme of the Polish Arts Festival produced by Hungry Arts. Deconstruction Project has been collaborating with Hungry Arts on the Polish Arts Festival’s previous editions in Southend and have curated Young Polish Art at Metal, an exhibition of works by five female contemporary Polish artists as well as Homeless Gallery photography exhibition for its 2011’s incarnation.

Subject to Change revolves around the fluid nature of modern spaces and objects. It embarks on the role and impact of the factors of constant transformation and upgrading, which largely define contemporary culture. Looking at the range of relevant conditions, the exhibition explores current dynamics of change, not only in the domestic and intimate but also in the public/social and celebratory contexts.

The show occupies two recently vacated fast food chain sites located on either side of the Kursaal’s foyer. This location provokes a discussion about relationship between history, economics, architecture, identity, entertainment, temporality and fake grandeur; the areas that are being strongly affected by each other and as such are constantly subjected to change. As we are observing these changes and experiencing their increasing speed, the artists rise to the challenge of disrupting their stream. The artists’ investigate the dynamics of time and space through employment of various artistic strategies such as enclosure, isolation, interruption, looping, multiplying and juxtaposing.

Subject to Change gathers artists’ work of various media including installation, painting, sculpture and video. The timeline of the exhibition’s narration spans thousands of years, starting off at the mythical Garden of Eden (Rafal Zawistowski) traveling via contemporary social issues such as consumerism and homelessness (Eva Lis, Anja Borowicz) to eventually arrive at the place belonging to visions of the future (Jan Manski). It is a journey through visualised concepts of spaces and objects subjected to change. The artists explore estrangement of the domesticated (Magdalena Drwiega) and propose new settings and rules for familiar events and spaces (Marcin Dudek, Justyna Scheuring). The recurring reference present in the exhibiting artists’ practise is also the phenomena of metamorphosis (Sabina Sallis) and irrational replacement and juxtaposition of materials (Kasia Depta-Garapich). As the notion of change would not fulfil without remembering the state prior to the act of transformation, the artists also focus on mechanisms of visual memory and cultural and environmental attachment (Alicja Dobrucka, Gracjana Rejmer).

Through organising the exhibition in the context of the Polish Arts Festival the curators in collaboration with the participating artists took an opportunity to investigate specificity of art created by those of particular national background. Consequently the show is also concerned with the global phenomena of cultural assimilation of contemporary artists. Are there any existing expectations or presumptions of ‘Polish art’ in Britain? What are the characteristics of contemporary Polish artists’ practice? Can the change of direction in a migrant artist’s practice be regarded as a proof of cultural assimilation or alienation? Subject to Change with its selection of artworks intends to provoke a discussion and contribute to the ‘arts and cultural diversity’ discourse.

Participating artists:
Anja Borowicz, Kasia Depta-Garapich, Alicja Dobrucka, Magdalena Drwiega, Marcin Dudek, Eva Lis, Jan Manski, Gracjana Rejmer, Sabina Sallis, Justyna Scheuring, Rafal Zawistowski.

Subject to Change is part of the Polish Arts Festival 2012. The exhibition is curated by Agnieszka Kucharko and Zbigniew Kotkiewicz.

Curators:

Agnieszka Kucharko is an inter-disciplinary artist and Visual Arts Director at Deconstruction Project since its inception in 2010. Upcoming projects include 24 HOUR ART PROJECT, from A Footnote to Art Series - a commission for Peterborough Arts Festival 2012, at Café Valise for Metal; Induced Environments, Cairo, Egypt

Zbigniew Kotkiewicz is a London based inter-media artist, curator and educator.
Recent curatorial projects include LOW&HIGH, an Interdisciplinary Platform (Folkestone, Kent, 2011) and The Pursuit of Happiness (London - Poznan, Poland, 2008-2010). Zbigniew also works as a Sessional Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University’s photography programme.

For more information on the exhibition, for interviews with participating artists and all other queries please contact:
Agnieszka Kucharko - agnieszka@deconstructionproject.co.uk

Private View – 23rd of August, 6pm - 9pm

Kursaal Gallery Space
Eastern Esplanade - Southend on Sea SS1 2WW
Opening Times 12pm-6pm

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